The Best Breweries in North Carolina

North Carolina is a mecca for beer lovers—Asheville has continually been rated Beer City USA, Charlotte has almost 50 breweries itself, and essentially every other city in the state has their own local brewery they support. But which ones are making the absolute best beer? In alphabetical order, here are the best breweries in North Carolina:

Burial Beer Co. in Asheville & Raleigh, NC

Burial first opened it’s doors in the summer of 2013 and since then has become one of the best breweries in the country and arguably the best in North Carolina. They now have 3 locations—their original brewery and taproom in the South Slope neighborhood of Asheville, their Forestry Camp brewery and taproom in the Biltmore area of Asheville, and their downtown Raleigh location. They also are getting close to opening their Charlotte taproom and they are in the works of opening another space in Asheville. Burial is best known for their juicy New England IPAs, but they also make incredible Stouts and Lagers.

Dssolvr in Asheville, NC

Dssolvr is located in the heart of downtown Asheville and opened in December 2019. They focus on doing both worlds of beer well—old school Lagers, West Coast IPAs, Wild Ales + new school Hazy IPAs, Fruited Sours, and Pastry Stouts + everything in between. Their Fruited Sours can get a little crazy but everything they put out is well crafted and delicious.

Fonta Flora Brewery in Morganton, Nebo, and Charlotte, NC

Fonta Flora is one of the OG’s of the NC brew scene, having opened in 2013. They now have three locations—their original brewery and taproom in downtown Morganton, their Whippoorwill Farm location in Nebo, and their Charlotte taproom in Optimist Hall. Their award winning Wild Ales are the standout, but their Lagers and Hazy IPAs are phenomenal as well.

New Anthem Beer Project in Wilmington, NC

New Anthem opened in 2016 and they now have two locations in Wilmington—their original brewery and taproom at 116 Dock Street in downtown and their larger taproom and brewery at 110 Greenfield Street. New Anthem is best known for their New England IPAs which is reflected by their IPA-heavy tap list and can production.

Newgrass Brewing Co. in Shelby, NC

Newgrass opened in August 2015 and they are located in the heart of downtown Shelby right off Highway 74. Newgrass is an ideal stop between Charlotte and Asheville for Pastry Stouts, Hazy IPAs, and Fruited Sours. They have leaned into the hype beer game and it has treated them well—you can now find Newgrass cans and taps throughout the Carolinas.

Resident Culture Brewing Company in Charlotte, NC

Resident Culture is located in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood of Charlotte and opened their doors in September 2017. They are also close to opening a second brewery and taproom in the Gold District of Charlotte. The motto at Resident Culture is “where your weird is welcome” and they mean that—walking into their taproom you find a different vibe than most breweries. Their tap list is constantly changing but no matter the style RC does it well. Whether it’s a Mushroom Stout, Sour Patch Kids Sour, Lime Lager, Juicy IPA, or a Crisp Pilsner, if Resident Culture has leaned into it, they won’t steer you wrong.

Honorable Mention: Casita brewing Company

Casita is located in Wilson, North Carolina, a small town an hour east of Raleigh. They opened their taproom in 2020 after contract brewing for years at Hill Farmstead Brewery in Vermont and Duck-Rabbit Brewery in NC. Casita has already produced some phenomenal beers and as they continue to get comfortable in their new home the future looks bright.

If you’re exploring North Carolina, here are my guides to Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington!
Cheers!—Alexis

The Best Breweries in Louisiana

I lived in Louisiana for about five years and spent my weekends exploring the brew scene across the state! In ranking order, here are the best breweries in Louisiana:

Parish Brewing in Broussard, LA

The G.O.A.T. of Louisiana beer, hands down. Ghost in the Machine has long been a favorite for IPA drinkers across the country and Double Dry Hopped Ghost has now gained a national reputation as well. Their quaint taproom in Broussard understates how good their beer is and how sought after it is becoming.

Courtyard Brewing in New Orleans, LA

Courtyard is one of my favorite breweries of all time! Their beers are spectacular—specifically their IPAs, but don’t sleep on their other styles as well. They have navigated more hurdles in their 7 years of operation than any small business I know, but they are still grinding and still brewing great beers. Check them out for delicious beers and chill vibes.

Parleaux Beer Lab in New Orleans, LA

Parleaux is located in the Bywater neighborhood of NOLA and has fantastic brews. Their outdoor space is delightful and the perfect spot to spend an afternoon. Their beers are constantly changing, so I would recommend sampling several in order to get a real picture of how well they execute each style.

Great Raft Brewing in Shreveport, LA

Grace and Grit from Great Raft was one of the first IPAs that I truly loved—it is an extremely well-balanced and approachable beer, especially for an 8% Double IPA. Their Belgian series is also something not to be missed. Great Raft has been a powerhouse in the Louisiana brew scene since they opened in 2013 specializing in getting the Western half of the state to “drink real beer” and have since expanded to Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

Urban South Brewery in New Orleans, LA

Urban South is a fun spot in NOLA with a frequently changing tap list filled with great beers. They opened their New Orleans taproom in 2016 and just three years later opened their second taproom in Houston. Their specialty seasonal releases are what they do best which are mostly Hazy IPAs and Fruited Sours, but don’t sleep on the Lime Cucumber Gose that took home a gold medal at the 2020 Great American Beer Fest.

Have you explored the Louisiana brew scene? Let me know your favorite spots in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

The Best Breweries in Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids area has over 80 breweries making it a beer drinker’s Mecca! If the pure number of breweries isn’t enough to entice you that you have to visit, the city also was voted Beer City USA, Best Beer Town, and Best Beer Scene from USA Today and other national polls. Narrowing the list of best breweries in the area was tough, but I managed to drink my way through the city and compile the top 4 breweries below, in ranking order.

Check out my full beer and travel guide for Grand Rapids here!

Speciation Artisan Ales

Speciation is the absolute best stop on the Beer City Ale Trail and my favorite brewery in Michigan! They specialize in Wild Ales and Natural Wines and are the only brewery in the area to do so. Speciation has a unique approach to brewing and you can always expect funky and distinct flavors. Their taproom is located on the popular Wealthy Street in the heart of town.

Arvon Brewing Co.

Arvon is located just south of downtown Grand Rapids on Division Street with a cute and cozy taproom that they opened in 2020. Prior to 2020 they only distributed their beers from their production-only facility in nearby Grandville, and they did not have any options for onsite consumption. Arvon was able to grow their name and flagship beers through this method, but having a taproom has really expanded their beer selection and boosted their popularity. They specialize in Hazy IPAs and Sours, but they do well with every style of beer.

Lost Art Brewhouse

Lost Art opened in 2020 and they are already taking the Grand Rapids area by storm. They are right across the city line in Walker, MI and are putting out some incredible beers! Their different variations of IPAs are definitely their strong suit—whether it’s a single IPA, a Double IPA, or a Milkshake IPA they do it to perfection.

Odd Side Ales

Odd Side is located near Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, Michigan just outside of Grand Rapids. Their large taproom is a popular destination, especially in the summer months. Odd Side makes a wide variety of beers and are best known for Bean Flicker, a coffee blonde. Their Barrel Aged Stouts and Fruited Sours are the best styles they make.

Have you been to Grand Rapids? What do you think are the best breweries in Beer City USA? Let me know in the comments! —Cheers, Alexis

Check out my full beer and travel guide for Grand Rapids here!

The Best Breweries in Asheville

Asheville has a plethora of breweries, but which ones are the best? I’ve rounded up the top 5 breweries in AVL for your next beer trip!

Check out my full guide to Asheville here!

Burial Beer

Burial is hands down the best brewery in Asheville. They are one of the top breweries in the country so this should be no surprise. Burial’s South Slope taproom can get packed on the weekends, but it is worth the wait for their fantastic brews. Their top styles are juicy New England IPAs, thiccc Imperial Stouts, and crispy Lagers. Burial is also in the process of opening a new taproom in Asheville so keep your eyes peeled for updates on the new space.

Zillicoah Beer

Zillicoah makes incredibly fantastic Lagers and Farmhouse Ales. Their serene location just north of downtown is right along the French Broad River. It is the perfect spot to relax with a clean, crisp beer.

Dssolvr

Dssolvr makes both classic beer styles and insane hype beer styles, but they do everything well. Whether it’s a clean crisp Pilsner or a quadruple fruited Sour Ale with marshmallow you can expect it to be phenomenal. Dssolvr’s taproom is located in downtown Asheville and has a small patio space out back.

Bhramari Brewing

Bhramari always has a wide variety of beers to choose from and they are particularly known for their unique flavor combinations. They use distinctive hops, fruits you’ve never heard of, and wild spices to cultivate their deliciously crazy brews. Bhramari’s location in South Slope has a full food menu and a large patio space.

Highland Brewing

Highland is Asheville’s oldest brewery and is still one of the best! They began in 1994 and have since grown into a staple of the Southeast. Highland makes every style of beer you can imagine, but they are best known for their Gaelic Ale, an Amber. Their 40-acre property in East Asheville includes a taproom, meadow, packaging hall, event center, rooftop bar, and trails.

Special mention: Cellarest Beer Project

Cellarest just opened in 2021 so they haven’t earned an official spot on the best breweries in Asheville list yet, but they are on their way! They have a unique approach to beer with wood fermentation and complex flavors. Located in West Asheville, Cellarest is the brewery to watch in AVL.

What do you think are the best breweries in Asheville? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

The Best Breweries in St. Louis

The St. Louis area has a plethora of breweries (60+) and I’ve narrowed those down to the top 8 breweries in STL. These spots are cranking out the best beer in the city and are absolute must-trys!

Check out my full guide to St. Louis here!

In ranking order, here are the top breweries in St. Louis:

#1: Side Project Brewing

Repeatedly ranked one of the top breweries in the country, Side Project is the absolute G.O.A.T. of STL beer. Their beers are all barrel aged and a majority of them are barrel-fermented. Think Imperial Stouts, Barleywines, Wild Ales, and Saisons—but don’t overlook their IPAs that the staff produces through Shared Brewing.

Peanut Butter & Stout at Narrow Gauge Brewing

#2: Narrow Gauge Brewing

Narrow Gauge is located just Northwest of STL in Florissant, Missouri and produces the best New England IPAs in the area. Juicy, hazy, and delicious is the name of the game at Narrow Gauge. Their Imperial Stouts are also fantastic!

#3: Perennial Artisan Ales

Perennial has been in the craft beer game since 2011 and they make a huge variety of beers. Abraxas is their most popular beer which is an Imperial Stout with ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and cinnamon sticks, but if Stouts aren’t your style Perennial will still have something you can fall in love with.

#4: 2nd Shift Brewing

2nd Shift also makes an impressive variety of beers—essentially any style of beer you are looking for you can find at their taproom. Lean into the crazier sounding brews and you won’t be disappointed.

Daisy Glaze New England IPA at Heavy Riff Brewing

#5: Heavy Riff Brewing

Heavy Riff is in the heart of the Dogtown neighborhood of St. Louis and has a whopping 25 taps to choose from. Their Wild Ales are particularly fantastic and they are quite possibly the only brewery I’ve seen to have a Brown Ale with an untappd rating of a 4.2.

#6: Bluewood Brewing

Bluewood opened their doors in 2019 within the old Lemp Brewery Stables, giving their space a particularly unique atmosphere. They make a wide variety of beers as well as their own Mead.

German Chocolate Cake at Wellspent Brewing

#7: Wellspent Brewing

Wellspent makes some incredibly delicious beers! They are particularly known for their barrel aging and Imperial Stouts. Their taproom has great vibes.

#8: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company’s Midtown Biergarten

This German-style brewery has a very traditional tap list and classic biergarten vibes. I recommend getting a stein of something clean like a Pilsner or Lager and the pretzel sticks.

Have you been to St. Louis? What are your favorite breweries?! Let me know in the comments! —Cheers, Alexis

The Best Breweries in Georgia

When I visited my first brewery in Georgia in June 2014 you had to purchase a “tour” of the brewery and receive tokens for a few beer samples with your tour. The brewery was not allowed to directly sell you beer. You could not walk up to the bar, grab a pint, and take a seat as we all know and love today.

Thankfully in September 2017 that finally changed with a new law, leading to a huge increase in breweries in the state. Further regulation changes since then, such as the state’s max ABV and how much beer a brewery is allowed to produce, have opened the gates even wider for more breweries to blossom. Now in 2021 Georgia has just over 100 breweries.

In alphabetical order, here are the best breweries in Georgia:

Check out my guide to Atlanta and my guide to Savannah!

Contrast Artisan Ales

Located in Chamblee, Georgia, a city in the northeast Atlanta suburbs, Contrast Artisan Ales is a cute little spot with killer beers. They’ve got a small but mighty tap list particularly filled with IPAs. There is a high level of craftmanship being poured into each of their brews. It is worth the journey to the suburbs to check out them out!

Creature Comforts Brewing Company

Located in Athens, Georgia, Creature Comforts makes essentially every style of beer under the sun. They are strongest at Saisons and Mixed-Cultures, really honing in on the craftsmanship of funky beers. Their clean beers are also really well done, and Classic City Lager is a delightful all day sipper. Creature Comforts is also opening a second brewery and taproom in Los Angeles.

Halfway Crooks

Located in central Atlanta, Halfway Crooks is a Lager-focused brewery that is absolutely incredible. Their beers are delightfully crisp and packed full of flavor. Their Lagers, Saisons, and Pilsners are particularly top-notch.

Monday Night Brewing

Monday Night has two locations in Atlanta—the original taproom is in Midtown and The Garage, their Sour and Barrel Aging facility is located in the Lee + White West End establishment. Monday Night was one of the OGs of the craft beer game in the South. They were the first brewery I ever visited and what truly got me hooked on craft beer and exploring breweries! They always have a wide variety of beers to choose from and they do each style well. Their decadent Stouts and small batch juicy IPAs from their Hop Hut series are my personal favorites. Monday Night has also expanded to Birmingham and Nashville.

Pontoon Brewing

Located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, a northern suburb of Atlanta, Pontoon crushes the Sour and Stout game. Name an adjunct and you can probably find it in one of Pontoon’s beers. They throw some crazy things into their recipes but they turn out delicious! Located in a strip mall setting, Pontoon’s environment isn’t what you’d expect for a brewery with a pretty large distribution but their beers are top notch.

Two Tides Brewing Company

Located in Savannah, Georgia, Two Tides is located in a converted house with a super unique setting. Each “room” of the brewery has a different vibe and the balcony porch lets you embrace the lovely Savannah ambience. Two Tides is particular fantastic at crafting IPAs and Sours. They are always getting creative and making unique small batch beers so their tap list changes frequently. I’d recommend doing small pours so you can sample their smattering of beers. They’ve also embraced beer slushies to help cool you off during that humid Savannah summer.

Wild Leap Brew Co.

Located in LaGrange, Georgia, Wild Leap continues to impress with their IPAs, Sours, and Stouts. Their Alpha Abstraction series of Double IPAs always produces incredibly delicious juicy IPAs with a punch. Their Truck Chaser ice cream style Double IPAs are always highly sought after as well, and for good reason. Wild Leap is incredibly underrated and one of the best in the craft beer game. Fun fact, they also make their own craft vodka!

If you are exploring Georgia, here are my guides to Atlanta and Savannah! Cheers—Alexis

The Best Breweries in South Carolina

South Carolina has over 75 breweries and some that are truly crushing it. Living in Charlotte, South Carolina is just a half an hour away so I frequently head down to SC for adventures and of course brewery exploration.

In alphabetical order, here are the best breweries in South Carolina:

Birds Fly South Ale Project

Located in Greenville, SC, Birds Fly South crushes the wild beer game. Sours, Cuvees, Farmhouse Ales, Mixed Cultures, Saisons, Wild Lagers—if it has got funk, BFS does it and does it well. They are housed in Hampton Station, a mixed used development with a few other spots that you can explore. White Duck Taco is always a good idea to pair with your beers.

Charles Towne Fermentory

Located in Charleston, SC, Charles Towne makes great IPAs and Lagers. Don’t expect a huge variety or a huge tap list when you visit, but the things they do they do well. The head brewer used to brew at Trillium and then Tired Hands, so you know they crush Hazy IPAs. Their small taproom is located in the Avondale neighborhood.

Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.

Located in Charleston, SC, Edmund’s Oast has three different locations: The Brewery, The Restaurant, and The Exchange. The brewery location is my personal favorite and will soon be right next to Juan Luis, a popular taco spot taking the former space of Workshop Food Hall for those familiar. The Exchange is connected to The Restaurant is is a great spot to grab to-go beers. Each Edmund’s Oast location has different Happy Hour specials that are fantastic, I highly recommend looking to see what they are featuring before you visit. Edmund’s Oast does each style of beer well, but their Sours are the best in my opinion. No matter what you order you will be impressed!

The Eighth State Brewing Co.

Located in Greenville, SC, Eighth State nails Fruited Sours and Pastry Stouts. They make insane beers because they are willing to go out on the edge and use things in their beers that others would never dare. You never know what you’re going to find on the tap list but just lean into it and enjoy! They’ve also got sandwiches and bread from Swamp Rabbit Cafe to go with your beers which is truly fantastic.

Slow Play Brewing

Located in Rock Hill, SC, just south of Charlotte, Slow Play makes incredibly juicy and delicious IPAs. They have a wide variety of beers if IPAs aren’t your thing, but if you enjoy them you will love this spot. They’ve also got an amazing food truck that lives onsite—Cibi Cibi!

Westbrook Brewing

Located in Charleston, SC, Westbrook is one of the OGs of craft beer. Personally I think their Stouts are their strongest style (can you tell from my flight above?) but they do each style of beer well! They are most known for Mexican Cake, an Imperial Stout with cocoa nibs, cinnamon, vanilla, and habanero peppers. Their taproom is in Mount Pleasant but you can find their beer across the state and neighboring states as well.

If you’re exploring South Carolina, here is my full guide to Greenville and here is my full guide to Charleston!
Cheers —Alexis

The Best Breweries I’ve Visited in the United States

I’ve been to over 575 breweries in 30 countries, so when people ask me what my favorite brewery is that is a tough question. This list encompasses my top 20 breweries I’ve visited in the United States. For breweries outside of the US, check out my favorite breweries abroad here!

This list is in no particular order, because that would be impossible for me to rank, they are all so good!

Courtyard Brewery: New Orleans, LA

Juicy IPAs, frequent food pop-ups, a super friendly staff, and amazing guest taps—what more do you need?! After living in New Orleans for almost 5 years I can firmly say that Courtyard is incredible!

Check out the rest of my New Orleans recommendations here!

Monday Night Brewing: Atlanta, GA

Monday Night was the first brewery I ever visited and I have loved it ever since that June day in 2014. They have evolved so much since that first visit, including their Garage location in ATL and a soon-to-open taproom in Birmingham. They brew a wide variety of beers that are all incredibly delicious!

Check out the rest of my Atlanta recommendations here!

Resident Culture Brewing: Charlotte, NC

Resident Culture’s Hazy IPAs are some of the best in the entire country in my opinion—specifically their Double and Triple IPAs are what really set them apart. Their taproom is a fun and welcoming environment, their staff is incredibly nice, and they truly are a community-based brewery.

Check out my guide to Plaza Midwood, Charlotte here!

Burial Beer: Asheville, NC

Burial has long been revered as one of the best breweries in the Southeast. They are good at making essentially every type of beer but their juicy IPAs and adjunct-loaded Stouts are my favorites! Their taproom can be packed on the weekends so visit on a weekday if possible. They have a small food menu if you’re hungry and great merch to bring home with you.

Check out my guide to Asheville here!

Our Mutual Friend Brewing: Denver, CO

When I visited OMF for the first time I was shocked at how many different IPAs they had available, and I loved it! They now have a much larger variety of beers available and Saisons are more so their specialty. Their atmosphere is extremely welcoming and the vibes are chill. They have a small patio to enjoy your beers on and are located right in heart of the RiNo neighborhood of Denver.

Check out the rest of my Denver recommendations here!

Two Tides Brewing: Savannah, GA

Located in an old renovated house, Two Tides is absolutely adorable. They have separate rooms with different vibes in each room, a balcony, and board games. Their Sours are my favorites but everything I have had from them has been delicious! If you’re visiting in the summer months they also do beer slushies.

Check out my Savannah guide here!

Parish Brewing: Broussard, LA

Parish’s location is small and intimate and located in a small town in Louisiana, but it’s worth venturing to. Their IPAs are absolutely incredible and their specialty releases are some of the best out there. If coffee beers are more of your thing, Reve is always a good choice!

Check out my recommendations for Lafayette here!

Other Half Brewing: Brooklyn, NYC

Another IPA mecca! Other Half cranks out juice bombs that are incredibly delicious. Their fruited sours and pastry stouts are also top notch, so don’t forget to give those a try. Their taproom is small for how popular they are but the intimate atmosphere adds to the experience. Try to visit on a weekday if at all possible as it will usually be standing room only during the weekends (pre-COVID, not sure how that will play out in our new reality). Their team is some of the best in the biz & incredibly nice!

Check out my NYC guide here!

Photo courtesy of Cellarmaker Brewing, I somehow failed to take any photos while visiting

Cellarmaker Brewing: San Francisco, CA

Cellarmaker’s modest taproom pumps out a huge variety of small batch experimental beers. They don’t have flagships like most breweries, they switch things up consistently and are always pushing themselves to try new things. They’ve also got a pizza restaurant with Detroit-style pies and its own distinct tap list!

Check out my San Fran recommendations here!

Modist Brewing: Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis has a ton of great beer, but Modist goes above and beyond. Their taproom has a welcoming environment and it is filled with local artwork and flair. They make unique and creative beers that are packed with flavor and surprise your taste buds with each sip! No matter what style of beer you are in the mood for, Modist does it well, but I recommend their IPAs the most.

Check out my guide to Minneapolis here!

The Eighth State Brewery: Greenville, SC

Eighth State is always doing something funky and I am here for it. Their sours pack a punch, their stouts are luxurious, and they are never afraid to throw something crazy into a beer. Kool Aid? Yes. Carrot Cake? Yes. The list goes on, but don’t worry their beers are delicious and well worth checking out! The taproom also has food from Swamp Rabbit Cafe which is incredible!

Check out my guide to Greenville here!

Vista Brewing: Driftwood, TX

Vista is a Farmhouse-style brewery that has an amazing outdoor space with 21 acres and a beautiful taproom. They brew a wide variety of beers, but their Wild Ales are particularly fantastic. They also have a full farm-to-table food menu that is incredibly delicious, so come hungry! Vista is located outside of Austin in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country.

Check out the rest of my recommendations for the Austin area here!

Crime and Punishment Brewing: Philadelphia, PA

It’s a brewery located in a neighborhood called Brewerytown, they were bound to be successful! Crime and Punishment has a small taproom and a small tap list, but their beers are worth standing up in a corner for. Their taproom also smells incredibly delicious thanks to their Russian-inspired food menu specializing in dumplings.

Check out my guide to Philly here!

Pretentious Barrel House: Columbus, OH

Pretentious Barrel House makes all Sour beers! Not everything is incredibly tart and makes you pucker, they have beers across the spectrum that are each barrel aged to cultivate a different flavor. This unique spot has a fun taproom with a few arcade games and frequent events.

Check out the rest of my Columbus recommendations here!

Speciation Artisan Ales: Grand Rapids, MI

Speciation specializes in Wild Ales using natural yeast and bacteria, making each of their beers uniquely delicious. They also make their own wines, ciders, and hard seltzers, so they have something for everyone! Their new taproom is on Wealthy Street in central Grand Rapids and will be opening soon.

Check out the rest of my Grand Rapids recommendations here!

Jackie O’s Brewery: Athens, OH

Jackie O’s flew under the radar for me for far too long, and I am so glad to have remedied that mistake. They have two taprooms and a restaurant in the college town of Athens, I recommend visiting the brewery and taproom on Campbell Street. Their Stouts are some of the best I have ever had.

Fonta Flora Whippoorwill Farm: Nebo, NC

A brewery on an old dairy farm ten minutes from Lake James State Park with a plethora of outdoor seating, a farm-to-table food truck onsite, and delicious beers. Fonta Flora makes a wide variety of beers but their Wild Ales and Lagers are my personal favorites. They use local ingredients to cultivate distinct flavors and support the community. Visiting their Whippoorwill location is an incredibly relaxing and joyful experience.

Maplewood Brewery and Distillery: Chicago, IL

Maplewood’s taproom has a distinct vibe with their lounge set up that is different from most breweries. It feels almost speakeasy-esque, making your visit even more enjoyable. They specialize in IPAs which I highly recommend. They have their own liquor program as well, so if a craft cocktail is more your style you won’t be disappointed.

Check out my guide to Chicago here!

Fifth Hammer Brewing: Long Island City, NYC

I had never heard of Fifth Hammer before I wandered into their taproom in NYC while hopping around the breweries in the Long Island City neighborhood, but now it is one of my absolute top recommendations. Their beer is incredibly delicious, the vibes are super chill, and it is just all around a great place to hang out. Their fruited Sours in particular were what impressed me the most—they are jam packed with flavor!

Check out my guide to NYC here!

Southern Grist Brewing: Nashville, TN

Southern Grist’s cans of delicious beer stole my heart a long time ago, but visiting their taprooms this year really deepened my love. They do every style of beer well and with flair. Adjunct loaded Stouts, fruit packed Sours, hop loaded IPAs, crisp clean Lagers, you name it. They have two taprooms, the original in East Nashville and their second location on the west side of town, Nations Taproom.

Check out my guide to Nashville here!

What are your favorite breweries in the US you’ve visited?! Let me know in the comments!

The Best Breweries to Drink Outside at in Charlotte

Warm weather is here and so is patio season! Here are the best breweries in Charlotte to enjoy your brewski outdoors at:

Wooden Robot Brewery

Both the South End and NoDa locations for Wooden Robot have great outdoor seating options. At The Chamber in NoDa there is a nice outdoor patio plus there is a rooftop bar! At the original location in South End they have a large patio and garage doors that roll up when the weather allows.

Resident Culture Brewing

Resident Culture is my favorite brewery in Charlotte and you can enjoy their delicious beers on their an expansive outdoor area. You can choose to go for the deck option or the lawn option, depending on availability and whether you’re looking for sun or shade.

Edge City Brewery

Edge City is located in the MoRa neighborhood and has a beautifully designed patio space! They also have massive fans for the warmer days to keep you comfortable.

Petty Thieves Brewing Co.

An eclectic brewery in northwest Charlotte with a great patio! They have a large pergola, a fire pit, and plenty of seating options.

The Suffolk Punch

Ample outdoor options between their patio and the courtyard area. They’ve got an outdoor bar and $3 beers on Thursdays and Sundays!

NoDa Brewing

NoDa has a plethora of outdoor space with fire pits, yard games, and a walk-up bar. Their menu always boasts a variety of beers to choose from for any palate. They’ve got frequent events as well!

Blue Blaze Brewing

All of Blue Blaze is outdoorsy, so it’s no surprise that they’ve got a great outdoor space! Their nature-y outdoor area is along the trees and has fire pits and rustic vibes.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Olde Meck has a huge beer garden with ample seating, fire pits, multiple outdoor bars, and even a playground! Plenty of space to enjoy their traditional German beers!

Devil’s Logic Brewing

Devil’s Logic has a fantastic rooftop patio with views of the Charlotte skyline! It is a great place to hang out on a beautiful day.

Birdsong Brewing

Birdsong has a strong environmental focus as a solar powered brewery and many green practices, so it is no surprise that they value their outdoor space! Choose whether you’re feeling picnic table vibes or relaxing in an Adirondack chair.

Town Brewing

Town has a relaxed outdoor area to enjoy their beers and full food menu. Get the pretzel, you won’t regret it!

Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts

A huge outdoor space that even includes an outdoor stage! Get yourself a Hazy IPA and soak up some Vitamin D. They also have great pizza from their partner Livy’s!

Sycamore Brewing

For many Sycamore is probably the first brewery that comes to mind when thinking about drinking a beer outside—they have a large outdoor beer garden! Expect to find it packed when the weather is nice.

What’s your favorite brewery to drink outside at in charlotte? let me know in the comments!

The Best Breweries I've Visited Abroad

I’ve been to over 550 breweries in 30 countries exploring the global craft beer scene. These have been some of my favorite breweries I’ve visited outside of the United States!

I base this on beers, atmosphere, and overall experience when visiting. These aren’t in ranking order to be clear, it’s organized by continent.

Cantillon Brewery: Brussels, Belgium

The G.O.A.T.! Cantillon is a lambic brewery making some of the best beers in the world.

It is quite unlike any other brewery you’ll visit, I definitely recommend it! You can book a tour in advance or do a self-guided tour of the historic facility, both come with a tasting afterwards.

Their Gueze is their most popular but everything they offer is unique and fantastic.

The rest of my Belgium recommendations are located here!

Brouwerij’t IJ: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A brewery in a windmill, can you get more Netherlands?!

Brouwerij’t IJ is adorable and is cranking out some amazing beers. There is also a basic food menu of snacks to accompany your beer.

The taproom has very chill vibes and friendly staff to help you decide what you’d like to have!

Check out my guide to Amsterdam here!

Jopen: HaArlem, The Netherlands

Located in an old church in the center of Haarlem, a small town outside of Amsterdam.

Jopen has a full food menu with a variety of dishes. For a fun twist, Jopen also offers High Beer, in the spirit of High Tea. It has a pairing of 3 beers and 6 snacks.

The vibes at Jopen are a little more restaurant-esque than what I normally like but the beautiful setting makes up for it!

Eggenberg Brewery: Cesky Krumlov, The Czech Republic

A traditional Czech brewery in the little town of Cesky Krumlov. This location first started making beer in 1561!

It has super fun beer hall vibes and you can expect your waitress to slam your overflowing beer down in front of you while holding 10 other beers at the same time.

They’ve also got traditional Czech food to enjoy after a day of sightseeing.

My Czech Republic guide is here!

Augustiner Keller: Munich, Germany

I know, you’re thinking I am crazy because we’re talking about beer in Germany and I didn’t say Hofbrauhaus! Don’t get me wrong, Hofbrauhaus is great, but the atmosphere at Augstiner Keller was fantastic.

They have a huge beer garden that was my favorite part of my visit, along with their delicious traditional German beers. They have a full restaurant as well (but let’s be real you just really want a pretzel).

Check out all of my Munich recommendations here!

Abirradero: Barcelona, Spain

Most people think of Spain for their wines, not beer, but Abirradero is working to change that reputation with their brews!

They have a large beer menu and a food menu with a plethora of tapas to choose from. My cheese board was delightful!

They have a nice outside patio to enjoy your food and drink in as well. Abirradero is a bit pricey but I found it to be worth it!

The rest of my Barcelona recommendations can be found here!

Stomping Ground Brewery and Beer Hall: Melbourne, Australia

I loved the bright and spacious vibes of the beer garden at Stomping Ground! They have a retractable roof, a ton of plants, and a really fun atmosphere.

Their Smash series of sours were my favorites, but they have a large variety of beers to choose from. Stomping Ground also has a full food menu.

Check out my guide to Melbourne here!

33 Acres Brewing Company: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

A brewery coffee shop combination with amazing beers and delicious food! Located in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Vancouver and is in walking distance to several other breweries.

The wood fired pizza from the truck out front is incredible and I cannot recommend it enough! They’ve also got a breakfast menu for weekdays, an all day menu, and a weekend brunch menu.

I was thoroughly impressed with their beers, especially the juicy IPAs. Their taproom is pretty small so I would try to visit when it’s not peak hours to guarantee you’ll find a seat!

Check out my full guide to Vancouver here!

La Rana Dorada: Panama City, Panama

Panama’s first microbrewery! Right as you enter the Casco Viejo neighborhood this cute little brewery greets you.

They make great beers and it is a fun place to hang out and soak up the culture on the outside patio.

Check out my Panama guide here!

What are your favorite breweries outside of the United STates? Let me know in the comments!